Horticulture Principles and Practices

3. Other weeds. Apart from being unsightly in the lawn, several grass weeds including
dallisgrass, quackgrass, and tall fescue have the habit of forming patches and
clumps in areas of the lawn where there is shade or excess moisture. No suitable
elective herbicide control measures have been developed for these grass weeds.
4. Fungus. To treat fungal problems effectively, early identification is critical. If
found out too late, it is a waste of time and money to invest in fungicides.
5. Moss. The presence of moss to a significant degree indicates the lawn is shaded,
or the soil is wet, compacted, or acidic. Planting shade-tolerant species, aerating
the soil, liming, and improving drainage are methods to control moss growth.
6. Excessive shade. Lawns are generally shade intolerant. Where trees occur in the
landscape, excessive shading causes sparse growth under the trees. One measure
to curb this incidence is to sow shade-tolerant grasses in those areas, or replace
the grass with shade-tolerant ground covers.
7. Compacted soil. Soil compaction occurs as the people traverse the lawn during
maintenance operations like mowing. Compacted soil impeded water infiltration
and promotes poor rooting. For a small lawn, the homeowner may poke holes in
the lawn with a pointed stick. However, the common treatment is to use machines
(core aerators) to drill holes in the lawn.
8. Grubs. Grubs are larvae of beetles. They feed and destroy the roots of grasses,
causing the plants to wilt and die, leaving brown patches in the lawn. A biological
control method is the use of Heterorhabditis nematodes that can be purchased in
a pastelike form. Some insecticides are also available.
9. Dog urine. Urine is high in nitrogen. When a house pet urinates on a spot, a high
concentration of this chemical is deposited on a small areas, causing the grass to
die in the areas receiving most of the urine, while the edges become dark green
from nitrogen enrichment.
10. Moles. Moles are rodents that tunnel through the soil in search of grubs and worms.
In the process, they leave unsightly trail of raised soil. These critters may be trapped
or baited to kill them.
562 Chapter 18 Turf Production and Use
18.7 TURF FOR ATHLETIC PURPOSES
Athletic fields are subjected to intense and rough traffic, especially in the cases of sports
such as soccer and football. Sports such as golf are more gentle on the playing surface.
Designers and managers of athletic fields take the wear and tear factors into account in
planning the design and maintenance of a field. To reduce wear and tear, the game field
should be reserved for playing only scheduled games, and not used for team practice,
physical education classes, or marching band rehearsals.
18.7.1 SELECTION OF TURFGRASS AND INSTALLATION
Selection of turfgrass for an athletic field should take into account the desired characteristics
of the finished surface in terms of playability, safety, tolerances to traffic, durability,
and ease of maintenance, among other factors. Turfgrass for athletic fields include
warm-season grasses such as Bermuda grass and zoysiagrasses, as well as cold-tolerant
ones like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.
18.7.2 INSTALLATION
To ensure timely delivery, sod should be ordered from a reputable producer well in
advance of the time of use. The site should be well prepared, free from all preexisting
sod and weeds. A nonselective herbicide may be applied to remove all weeds effectively.
A soil test should be conducted to determine the soil amendments needed for establishing
a healthy turf. A light roller may be used to roll over the prepared field to provide an